Excel Ansong of New York City on Life, Lessons & Legacy

Excel Ansong shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Hi Excel , thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
Integrity. Intelligence and energy are incredible multipliers, but without integrity they just move you faster in the wrong direction. Integrity is how I make decisions when no one’s watching: how I treat customers, credit collaborators, and keep promises even when it’s inconvenient.

Energy is next. It’s the consistency, optimism, and bias for action that turns ideas into momentum. My teams and clients count on me to bring that steady push, showing up prepared, communicating clearly, and following through.

Intelligence matters, of course, but I define it as practical judgment: listening well, learning fast, and using data and feedback to adapt. That’s how I’ve built brands, delivered campaigns, and grown communities by pairing curiosity with execution.

So my order is integrity, then energy, then intelligence. With integrity, people trust you. With energy, they’ll build with you. With intelligence, you’ll steer wisely. That combination is how I lead and how I work.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi, I’m Excel Grace, a creative entrepreneur, brand strategist, and founder of The Grace Vision and We Are Crown’d, as well as the Marketing Director of Spark The Brain. My work sits at the intersection of creativity, strategy, and empowerment, and everything I build is rooted in the desire to help people see themselves and their purpose more clearly.

The Grace Vision is a creative agency and community platform dedicated to helping entrepreneurs, small business owners, and visionaries bring their ideas to life through intentional brand design, storytelling, and strategy. Beyond the visuals and marketing, it’s about impact—creating spaces that amplify underrepresented voices, celebrate culture, and nurture purpose-driven brands. It’s where creativity meets calling, and where business becomes a vehicle for transformation.

We Are Crown’d is my handcrafted skincare brand that reminds people to embrace self-care as an act of self-worth. Every product is designed to nourish both skin and spirit, encouraging confidence, luxury, and wellness in everyday life.

What makes my work unique is how seamlessly purpose and execution flow together. Whether I’m building brands through The Grace Vision or creating products through We Are Crown’d, my mission remains the same: to empower others to lead with intention, build with authenticity, and walk boldly in their light.

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
I was colorful, sassy, full of life, and completely unafraid to dream out loud. The world felt like my canvas, and I knew I could paint it however I wanted, bright, bold, and limitless. I created freely, I imagined big, and I believed that anything was possible.

In a lot of ways, I’m still that same girl, but now my childlike wonder feels a little more protected. Somewhere along the way, the world started telling me to color inside the lines, to be smaller, safer, quieter. But my spirit has never really agreed with that.

Deep down, I still feel her, that fearless, curious version of me who believed she could shape her own reality. Every day, I make it my mission to keep breaking through those walls, to return to that freedom, and to live just as boldly and unapologetically as she did.

What’s something you changed your mind about after failing hard?
I used to believe that I was the failure, not the circumstance. When things didn’t go as planned, I internalized it. I thought something was wrong with me instead of seeing that sometimes, life just takes turns that teach you what success can’t.

Over time, I learned to separate my worth from the outcome. The circumstance might be disappointing or unfair, but it’s never a reflection of my value. It’s just a moment, something to learn from, pivot from, or release entirely. But me, I am sacred.

I chose to believe that I never deserved the weight of shame or the feeling that who I was didn’t deserve another chance. Because the truth is, no matter what the world throws my way, I will always have the opportunity to rise again. I’m fully equipped with love, faith, and the power of God to carry me through anything.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
I’m committed to becoming my highest and greatest self, no matter how long it takes. For me, that means evolving into the version of myself that God envisioned long before I ever doubted what was possible. It’s a lifelong process of shedding old fears, healing through faith, and stepping boldly into purpose.

Becoming her isn’t just about success or recognition. It’s about alignment, being whole, grounded, and deeply connected to who I am at my core. It’s about learning to lead with grace, live with integrity, and move with intention even when the path feels uncertain.

I’ve realized that becoming my best self isn’t a destination, it’s a devotion. It’s choosing growth over comfort, faith over fear, and purpose over perfection every single day. That’s the project I’ll never give up on, because it’s the foundation for everything else I’m called to build.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people say that I cared deeply about people, about purpose, and about building something that brought others together. That I poured into community not just as a concept but as a calling. I wanted to build spaces where people felt seen, supported, and inspired to grow.

I hope they say my compassion made a difference, that my presence reminded others of their worth, and that my love pointed people back to God. More than anything, I want my story to be one of impact through heart, that I used my gifts to uplift others, and that through my work, faith, and love, people were reminded that they too are capable of something extraordinary.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.wearecrownd.com
• Instagram: @missexcelgrace
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/excel-ansong/